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OBJECTIVE: We describe a woman who presented with a psychiatric disorder post-partum and subsequently developed seizures and cognitive dysfunction prompting further investigation. A diagnosis of limbic encephalitis (LE) was made and antibodies to voltage-gated potassium channel complex (VGKC) detected. These antibodies are found in many non-paraneoplastic patients with LE. Although antibody-mediated conditions tend to present or relapse post-partum, VGKC-LE in the post-partum period has not been described. DESIGN: Case report. RESULTS: Clinical and imaging data were consistent with limbic encephalitis. High titres of anti-VGKC-complex antibodies confirmed the diagnosis of VGKC-LE. CONCLUSION: The similarities between the psychiatric symptomatology of VGKC-LE and post-partum psychiatric disorders raise the possibility that some instances of post-partum psychiatric conditions are manifestations of immune-mediated, non-paraneoplastic LE.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.jns.2011.06.017

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Neurol Sci

Publication Date

15/09/2011

Volume

308

Pages

152 - 154

Keywords

Anxiety, Diagnosis, Differential, Female, Humans, Limbic Encephalitis, Panic Disorder, Postpartum Period, Young Adult